Improvement in hemmers for sewing-machines



' HENRY A. LIS; I Improvement Hemmer fbf Sewi-hg Ma chinesfNd.'1'21',.046,* F2 25 v Patented Nov. 21,1871.

HENRY A. ELLIS, OF ALBANY, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND GEORGE S.WEAVER, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN HEMMERS FO R SEWING-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 121,046, dated November21, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY A. Films, of Albany, in the county of Albanyand State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Hemming Devicefor Sewing-Machines and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to theaccompanying drawing making part of this specification, in which Figure1 is a perspective view of the improved hemmer. Fig. 2 is a top view ofthe same. Fig. 3 is a front view of the same. Fig. 4 is a bottom view ofthe spring-tongue, the scroll, and holder for the pressure-bar.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the severalfigures.

This invention relates to improvements on the hemming attachment forsewing-machines for which applicationfor Letters Patent was made by meon the 12th day of April, 1870. My invention has for its object theguiding of the material up to the needle in a more perfect manner thanhitherto, so that the hems shall be of uniform width throughout.

The following description of my invention will enable others skilled inthe art to understand it.

A B represent a narrow thin strip of metal bent so that the portion Alies over and parallel to the base portion B, leaving a narrow spacebetween them for receiving a scroll-turning device, D. The upper portionA is slotted longitudinally at a, and its free end is hooked under as atb, so as to receive the free end of the base portion, as shown in Figs.1 and 3. The slot a receives through it a screw, g, which secures plateA to the holder and allows the plates A B B to be adjusted, according tocertain gauge-marks which are engraved on the plate A, for differentwidths of hems. The base-plate B terminates at its free end in a longguide, B, the edge 8 of which is oblique to the line of plate B, for apurpose hereinafter explained. This guide B, together with the end ofplate B, on which it is formed, are turned up, as indicated in Fig. 3,for the purpose of keeping the folded material well up in the hook b andpreventing any liability of its catching or dragging between the 'endofplate B and the end of hook b. The holder 0 has a needle-hole, 6,through it, and is adapted for being secured to the lower end of thepressure-bar of, a sewingmachine. This holder, which is secured toslotted-plate A by means of screw g, as above described, is constructedwith a raised guide, s, which is received into slot a, and prevents theplates A B B, from twisting when secured to the pressure-bar of asewing-machine. Beneath that portion of the holder 0 which lies underthe slotted plate A, and permanently secured to the holder, is ascrollshaped turner, l),which is inverted so as to turn the edge of thegoods under while being fed up to the needle. This scroll terminatesforward in an inclined supporting and conducting lip, g, which insuresthe proper passage of the material to the needle. Alittle to one side ofthis turner D a pressure-spring is secured permanently to the bottom ofthe holder 0. This spring extends backward and downward so as to pressupon the goods directly beneath the edge thereof. It is also made withan oblique edge, 00, so as to afford more room between itself and thebar B and still have a broad bearing-surface and bear directly in linewith the feed. The raw edges of goods which are torn are more or lessstretched, and unless some provision is made for stretching in a likemanner that, portion of the goods to which these edges are stitched thehems will be uneven and great difliculty will be experienced in guidingthe goods up to the needle. The pressurespring E has oblique ridgesformed on its impinging surfaces which are directed away from the guideB, and which operate to stretch the goods at that part where the edge ofthe hem is stitched to it. spring E would not operate as stated withoutthe aid of a guide, B, which holds the hem by its folded edge while thesaid ridges stretch the lower portion of the hem. This pressurespringalso serves as a gauge in sewing very narrow hems, when the guide B isnot brought into play. The distance from the free end of the base-plateB to the turned edge of the hem indicates the width of the hem; but theoblique edge 8 falls short of this; consequently when the material isheld up to said edge and fed along the hem will not only be of a uniformwidth, but it'will be drawn smooth. With this oblique guiding-edge verylittle attention or manipulation of the ma- The ridges on the pressure--terial is required to keep the hem of uniform width and smoothness.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, 1s

1. The guide B, constructed with an oblique edge, 8, extending beyondthe rear of and in combination with the hook I; of the folder,substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the above, of the pressurestretching spring E,when constructed and arranged as described to bear directly in

